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Astell & Kern's latest mobile DAC brings 32-bit audio with fewer sacrifices
Astell & Kern has unveiled a new phone-friendly DAC that delivers 32-bit audio without as many compromises.
Sony would love if you bought its $3,700 Walkman for over-the-top audiophiles
Sony has released a $3,700 Walkman player built for extreme audiophiles, but will you notice the difference?
Technics' iconic turntable gets a seven-color makeover for its 50th anniversary
Technics plans to only sell 12,000 units of the SL-1200M7L.
Harman would like to sell you some $1,000 headphones
Luxury audio brand Mark Levinson announced its first "portable offering:" a $1,000 set of high-end wireless headphones.
Technics made a black version of its SL-1200 turntable you can actually buy
After dipping its toes in the world of Bluetooth earbuds last year, Technics is back to releasing new turntables and audiophile equipment.
What we're listening to in April: The White Album in high-res
This month's installment of our audio IRL is an educational experience. It took a relatively affordable high-res music player and some appropriately equipped (but still pretty affordable) in-ears to teach Senior Editor Daniel Cooper that audiophile-grade sound wasn't total BS. Plus, he got to revisit one of the best albums of all time in the process.
Amazon's $200 Echo Link is ready with streaming music for your hi-fi
If you've bought into Amazon's ecosystem of smart home features and you have a high-end audio system, then the Echo Link is intended to bring those worlds together. Announced earlier this year alongside devices like the Echo Sub and Fire TV Recast, it doesn't contain a microphone or speaker like the Echo Dot. Instead it simply delivers quality audio to your existing amplifier and/or speakers at the command of Alexa-connected apps and devices. Better yet, it doesn't only work with Amazon Music -- Spotify, Pandora and Tidal work out of the box with Apple Music listed as "coming soon." As far as the hardware, it's a simple box made to fit in on your shelf of equipment, with just a volume dial and headphone jack on the front, plus various ins and outs on the back. If you need to have an amplifier integrated into the box, you'll want to wait for the appropriately-named Echo Link Amp that's coming out next year. It adds a 60W two-channel amplifier to the mix and another $100 to the price. Right now, however, the Echo Link is your only option at $199.99.
Could Google’s ‘Smart Sound’ be more than just a gimmick?
Welcome to your living room, the latest battleground for tech companies vying for your allegiance. What started as Amazon staking its claim with the Echo line of smart speakers now includes competition from Google and Apple, too. It's not just tiny smart speakers, either -- all three companies have launched Hi-Fi systems in the past few months in an attempt to appeal to audiophiles. But while the Sonos One with Alexa and the Apple HomePod have mustered a ton of press since their debuts, the Google Home Max hasn't picked up quite as much traction. It's not that the Home Max is underwhelming -- it's just that the Sonos One is surprisingly affordable, while the HomePod launched to much fanfare because it's Apple's first foray into the smart-speaker space. For its part, Google has focused on extolling the benefits of machine learning in the Home Max. This time it's being marketed as Smart Sound, and it's the special sauce that enables the Max to tune itself to any room. But it's still a work in progress, and whether it's doing anything that's discernible to the human ear is up for debate.
Technics' SP-10R is its latest high-end throwback turntable
If you thought Technic's SL-1200 reissue was expensive, you haven't seen anything yet. Meet the SP-10R. Technics calls the throwback deck its "most premium turntable ever" and its 7kg (almost 15.5 pounds) brass, rubber and aluminum platter drives that claim home even further. "By optimizing the natural frequency of each ayer, external vibrations are thoroughly suppressed resulting in a beautifully clear and crisp audio experience," a very technically-worded press release says.
Audeze makes $2,495 earbuds only an audiophile could love
Audeze built a reputation on really good (and more portable) planar magnetic headphones. Back in September the company debuted its first in-ear model: the iSine. Despite looking somewhat like a mini TIE fighter, those bulkier earbuds do a solid job of improving sound quality for people who prefer that fit to an on-ear or over-ear set of headphones. There's even a separate model made specifically to pair with a VR headset. This week, Audeze took another huge step in its in-ear lineup by announcing the $2,495 LCDi4.
Teaching the uninterested about headphones
By Aaron Souppouris and Mat Smith There's a constant divide at Engadget between those who care about audio and those who don't. I (that's Aaron) fall mostly in the first category: I appreciate high-end headphones, but my budget typically leaves me with pairs costing $200 to $300. My current daily 'phones are AKG K702s for home and Master & Dynamic MH30s for out and about. My colleague Mat Smith couldn't be more different. He uses a mix of unremarkable Sony earbuds and Bluetooth headphones and responds to "audiophile" conversation with a bespoke mixture of groans and eye rolls. This CES, I decided to spend a morning getting him excited about headphones. It went ... OK? The rules were simple and our methodology entirely unscientific. We would travel from booth to booth, listening to a single track over and over. Because we're mean, the Engadget CES team deemed Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" the perfect fit, despite the holidays being long gone. After adding a 1,411Kbps (16/44.1kHz) FLAC file to my iPhone, we headed onto the show floor, stopping at Sennheiser, Audio Technica, HiFiMan, Audeze and Klipsch. In general, I was looking for portable headphones that work well when connected to a phone. For each listen, I had Mat tell me his thoughts before we moved on to the next booth.
Sennheiser's HD 6XX headphones offer audiophile audio for $200 (updated)
Sennheiser's HD 650 have been popular over-ear headphones among audiophiles since their debut over 10 years ago. At $500, the audio gear is priced just out of reach for people who were curious about high-end headphones, but didn't have a ton of extra cash to commit to the cause. However, they were widely regarded as some of the best headphones under $1,000. Thanks to a collaboration with online retailer Massdrop, Sennheiser has revived the HD 650 with the new $200 HD 6XX.
Audiophiles in Japan are installing their own electricity poles
Audiophiles are known for doing some pretty extreme things in their quest for 'purer' sound, such as buying headphones that cost as much as a good car or getting ridiculously overdone cables with little to no practical benefit. However, the Wall Street Journal notes that some Japanese listeners are taking things one step further. When Takeo Morita worried that "tainted" power would affect the quality of his tunes, he installed a roughly $10,000 utility pole with his own transformer to get more electricity straight from the grid. And he's not alone -- there's a whole magazine dedicated just to selling audio-related power equipment, including poles.
Engadget giveaway: Win audiophile-quality headphones courtesy of Sennheiser!
Sennheiser has been a well-known brand in the "audiophile" headphone world for years and now its new closed back HD 630VB lets you take high-end quality on the road. The company built these closed ear cans with on-the-fly controls for controlling volume, skipping through tracks and dialing in low-end frequencies with its variable bass control. High resolution audio files should also get plenty of wiggle room with a 10 to 42,000 Hz frequency range. The exterior is crafted from light-weight aluminum, folds down to a compact size for portability and includes replaceable ear pads. This week, Sennheiser gave us a set of its HD 630VB for one lucky reader's ears to cozy up with. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning. Winner: Congratulations to Nish B. of Bartlett, IL!
Sennheiser's new Orpheus headphones cost $55,000
When it comes to the very particular world of audiophile headphones, few names raise as many pulses as Sennheiser's Orpheus HE90. Designed 25 years ago, and limited to 300 pairs, the legendary headset came with its own valve amp, and a hefty $16,000 price tag. Today, Sennheiser lifted the cloth on a new Orpheus, and it's just as crazy. Apparently 10 years in the making, the new Orpheus builds on its predecessor's famous electrostatic design, bringing it up to date with a new signal processor, new marble-clad design, and wonderfully decadent motorized housing that reveals the knobs and valves when you turn it on.
Tidal's HiFi test rewards audiophiles with half as much free trial (update: now changed)
Tidal windmilled its way into music streaming relevance this week when it relaunched under the stewardship of its new owner, Jay Z. Apart from strong celebrity endorsement, Tidal's main selling point is a $20 premium tier offering lossless (non compressed) audio/music. To convince you over to that pricier package, Tidal has a test: listen to five songs, switch between the regular and high quality versions, and pick which one you think warrants the extra $10 a month. The prize? Two weeks free trial to Tidal. The problem is... you can get a 30 day trial just by signing up?
Ultimate Ears Pro 7 Custom in-ear monitors for pro musicians and audiophiles
We recently reviewed it and would hands-down say it's the best truly portable Bluetooth speaker I've used. It's an all-round fantastic package.
Neil Young's music player for audiophiles reaches Kickstarter on March 15th
We now know how Neil Young plans to make his dreams of high-quality digital music come true: crowdfunding. The artist's company PonoMusic is launching a Kickstarter campaign on March 15th that will let you reserve the PonoPlayer, Young's long-teased, audiophile-grade portable jukebox. The 128GB device will set you back a whopping $399 when it goes on sale (less with the Kickstarter discount), but its creators are promising audio fidelity worthy of the price tag. The hardware will offer natural-sounding digital filtering from Ayre Acoustics, ESS' most advanced digital-to-analog converter and "perfectly flat" frequency response with most any set of headphones. As you might expect, there will be a matching online store that delivers high-resolution tunes. The PonoMusic team hasn't said just when its media player will reach your pocket, but it shouldn't be too long before you're listening to a pristine version of Harvest while on the move.
Cyrus Lyric plays high-grade audio from seemingly any source
Cyrus' new Lyric series music players may look like inkjet printers, but don't judge them on their looks -- they may be ideal hubs for audiophile-grade living room audio. Both the Lyric 05 (80W per channel, 24-bit DAC) and Lyric 09 (170W per channel, 32-bit DAC) can stream 24-bit, 192kHz tunes from other devices on a local network, with an iPad app serving as the remote control. That's just the start of their audio abilities, though. They'll also stream internet radio, and they play most music from Bluetooth- or USB-based sources; more conventional listeners still have access to a CD player, DAB+ radio, FM radio and a mixture of both analog and digital inputs. Prices are high at £2,250 ($3,673) for a Lyric 05 and £3,000 ($4,897) for a Lyric 09, but the premium may be worthwhile for music aficionados unwilling to compromise on either convenience or sound quality.
Improve your Mac audio with the Audioengine D3 DAC
Audioengine recently released a premium 24-bit DAC (digital to analog converter) that lets you bypass your Mac headphone jack and send the audio through a USB port. The result is an audible and sometimes dramatic improvement in music quality. The D3 is US$189.00, a very reasonable price as high-quality DACs go. The D3 DAC allows you to stream bit-perfect native 24-bit/96 KHz HD audio. Installation is simple. The hardware unit looks like a small thumbdrive, and its aluminum housing is a perfect match for a Mac laptop. There are no drivers to install; you simply select your sound system in the preference pane and the DAC is recognized as an output device. Plug in some high-quality headphones or powered speakers and you are ready to go. There are two small LEDs on the D3 -- one shows power from the USB bus; the other shows the presence of a data stream above 48K. For listening, volume is controlled from the volume control on your Mac. Because the D3 essentially replaces the Apple sound system, anything with audio will come through the D3, such as a game, a movie or any sound file Apple supports. I gave the D3 a spin on some Apple lossless audio files and everything sounded excellent. Comparing the quality to the output of my built-in headphone jack was a challenge, because the D3 output is "hotter" than the regular Mac output. Adjusting for that, the audio through the D3 sounded cleaner. Quick transients like plucked strings and percussion had more of a bite to them. The sound of massed violins sounded less "electronic". Bass was deeper, but also more clearly defined. I also listened to some high-definition files from Reference Recordings, which were running at 96 KHz. The sound was obviously improved through the D3. MP3 files sounded about the same through the Apple headphone jack on my MacBook Air and the D3. As an aside, a lot of the high-definition files I have are in FLAC format, which iTunes does not support, but the Apple Store came to the rescue with an OS X app called FLACTunes FLAC Converter ($3.99). You drag your FLAC files onto the app window, and they are converted to Apple lossless format and placed in your iTunes library. My listening tests were done with B&W P3 headphones, Sennheiser HD600 headphones and Emotiva Airmotiv 4 powered studio speakers. The more challenging the music, the more the contrast to the basic Apple audio. If you want the best quality from your digital files, the Audioengine D3 is worth serious consideration. Unlike some DACs, the headphone amp is built-in, and under some very challenging musical files, I never heard distortion or breakup. Another popular product with similar features is the AudioQuest DragonFly DAC. I have not tested the DragonFly, but users give it good reviews. The Audioengine D3 is available direct from the company with a 30-day return privilege, and all the usual online shopping sites like Amazon or B&H Photo. I'll have to return my review sample, but certainly will buy one to use for my laptop and desktop Mac. It's that good.